Why LOTR's Great Eagles Are In The Rings Of Power Season 2: Trailer Scene Explained

Summary The Great Eagles from the Lord of the Rings films make an appearance in The Rings of Power season 2 trailer, hinting at their role in Numenor's storyline.

The Eagles' presence in the Amazon series offers insight into what events from J.R.R. Tolkien's Second Age will be covered.

While the Eagles' appearance may reignite a LOTR debate, their limitations in Tolkien's lore explain why they couldn't fly Frodo to Mordor.

The Rings of Power season 2 trailer features the Great Eagles from The Lord of the Rings movies, but their appearance may leave J.R.R. Tolkien fans wondering what they're doing in the Prime Video series. Those familiar with Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy will recall the Great Eagles from The Fellowship of the Ring. In the film, they save Gandalf after his encounter with Saruman, allowing him to escape the White Wizard and reunite with Frodo Baggins. They also appear in The Return of the King, retrieving Frodo and Sam from Mount Doom as it's erupting.

It looks like the Great Eagles will make a comeback in Amazon's Lord of the Rings show, as The Rings of Power season 2 trailer shows them in toward the end of its footage. Their appearance may come as a surprise to those less familiar with Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books and appendices. However, there's a good explanation for their presence in The Rings of Power season 2, even if it stands to reignite one LOTR complaint about the creatures.

Related 7 Tolkien Events Teased By LOTR: The Rings Of Power Season 2's Trailer The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2's teaser trailer hints that several exciting canon events will play out in the coming episodes.

Those Are LOTR's Great Eagles With Pharazon In The Rings Of Power Season 2's Trailer

It Looks Like They'll Be A Part Of The Numenor Storyline

Image via Prime Video

The Rings of Power season 2 trailer shows many of the characters and creatures that will appear in the new episodes, and one shot even features LOTR's Great Eagles. This moment takes place toward the end of the trailer, not long after the revelation that "every soul in Middle-earth is in peril." Viewers get a glimpse of the Eagles flying over Numenor, just before another shot shows one flying behind Ar-Pharazon as he draws his blade. While this all happens pretty quick, one thing's clear: the Eagles will be a part of The Rings of Power's Numenor storyline.

Their inclusion in the trailer offers some insight into the events that The Rings of Power season 2 will cover.

This isn't a total surprise, as Tolkien's lore indicates that the Great Eagles do visit Numenor during the Second Age of Middle-earth. In fact, their inclusion in the trailer offers some insight into the events that The Rings of Power season 2 will cover. While the Amazon series compresses Tolkien's timeline — and thus might take some liberties with his chain of events — the Eagles' arrival indicates that Numenor's downfall is inching closer.

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The Eagles' Connection To Numenor In The Second Age Explained

The Kingdom's Collapse Is Likely Approaching

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The Fall of Numenor is one of the biggest events to take place during Tolkien's Second Age, and the Eagles' appearance in The Rings of Power trailer suggests season 2 will bring viewers closer to this tragedy. Tolkien's writings reveal that the Eagles were present prior to Numenor's demise; two of them even had an eyrie in the kingdom's capital, though this was some time before Tar-Palantir's reign. As The Rings of Power opens with Tar-Palantir as king, it's unlikely the show will cover those Eagles.

The Fall of Númenor is one of the biggest events to take place during Tolkien's Second Age, and the Eagles' appearance in The Rings of Power trailer suggests season 2 will bring viewers closer to this tragedy.

The Great Eagles in season 2's trailer are more likely the ones who arrive to warn the people of Numenor that the Valar are unhappy with them. This happens not long before the Fall of Numenor, which is an event the Amazon series is clearly building toward. Pharazon plays a prominent role in Numenor's downfall, so it makes sense the eagles would seek him out specifically. It's possible Numenor's end will arrive in The Rings of Power season 2 — and even if it doesn't, the Eagles' visit will set the stage for this event in season 3.

Eagles In The Rings Of Power Season 2 Risks Making A LOTR "Plot Hole" Worse

Viewers May Question Where They Were During Frodo's Journey

Viewers have questioned why the Great Eagles couldn't fly Frodo to Mordor in The Lord of the Rings, and The Rings of Power season 2 will likely reignite discussions about this "plot hole." The Eagles appear multiple times in the original trilogy, and they offer help when it's most needed. Since they fly to Mordor to rescue Frodo and Sam, some fans have wondered why they couldn't just take the Hobbits there in the first place. And seeing the creatures interact with humans in The Rings of Power will likely raise this question yet again.

Those more immersed in Tolkien's lore know that the Great Eagles aren't godlike creatures — and thus, they couldn't make such a long journey with two Hobbits in tow. This does away with the suggestion that they could have flown Frodo to his destination. It's also unlikely the Great Eagles could have evaded Sauron's Ringwraiths and the Witch King, which would have made it easier to catch Frodo. So, even if The Rings of Power sparks a debate about the Eagles, it's unlikely to have a different outcome. Perhaps the show will even highlight why this would never have worked.